How to Manage Pests

Pests in Gardens and Landscapes

Pest identification and confirmation—Juniper twig girdler

Don't confuse twig girdler damage with that caused by
disease or other insects such as cypress tip miner or juniper
scales. Look for off-white larvae with brown heads, up to
0.38 inches long and tunnels under twig bark to confirm the
presence of twig girdlers. Dying juniper branches may also
be caused by mice or root rot fungi. Bark chewed away in
bands from lower parts of branches is symptomatic of rodent
feeding. If you don't find insect damage or rodent chewing,
the dieback may be caused by soil fungi, which thrive when
soil moisture is high for prolonged periods. Twig dieback
at the edges of plantings may be the result of dog urine,
which can be diagnosed by the characteristic odor.

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